‘Consciousness is very ancient; the mind is older than the stones’

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: ‘Dhi’ means the intellect and ‘Samadhi’ means where the mind is in total equanimity; where your whole system is in total balance, that is called Samadhi. Body, mind, spirit, everything is in such coordination and serenity!

There are so many different types of Samadhi.

One is called Laya Samadhi: when there is some music going on and you are completely dissolved into it. You know you are but you don’t know where you are.

Then there is Pragya Samadhi, Asamprajnata Samadhi, etc. Also, there is a Samadhi where thoughts are there, ideas are there but you are very tranquil. And there is a Samadhi where there are no thoughts, just a feeling is there.

So there are many different types of Samadhi.

It is said that the joy of Samadhi is described as: in one moment of Samadhi there is a million years of rest. Koti Kalpa Vishram, million years of rest in a moment, is Samadhi.

It is also described that the pleasure in one moment of Samadhi is equivalent to one thousand units of sex. So this is why celibacy in a Yogi is very natural. You don’t need to make an effort to be celibate; you don’t need another body to rub yourself on to find ecstasy. You just sit and there is a heightened joy and bliss that just wells up within you.

That is why celibacy is not a practice that you do; it is a happening wherein every cell of your body is in a sort of thrill and bliss. And bliss is what you try to achieve in sex. I hear sometimes one achieves bliss and sometimes one doesn’t, but people get tired. That is what I hear. But in Samadhi you don’t get tired in spite of having that deep experience of joy. There is with no excitement, no feverishness, no tiredness, but an elevation which is energizing you every moment. So that is why celibacy happens.

Q-2: Does meditation help one to come out of grief when a close one passes away?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, it does help. Meditation definitely helps to come out of grief when a close one has crossed over to other side.

See, death is a very certain thing. Nothing is more certain than death, for sure. However you have lived your life, you are going to die. Successful or unsuccessful, you will die. Famous or infamous, you will die. Rich or poor, you are going to die. Healthy or sick, you are going to die.

It is not only sick people who die, healthy people also die. Everyone will die one day, so death is the most certain thing. You accept this truth, the reality and so you can say, ‘Oh you are gone, bye for now. I will see you few days later.’

Meditation definitely helps you to overcome grief. Not only that but when you meditate, the vibrations reach across to them and they feel peaceful.

Q-3: When there is a difficult situation, should I simply accept it or fight it out?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Fight it out, if you feel. If you feel you have done your 100 percent and you can’t fight it in any way, then pray. Pray for help!

First you accept the situation as it is and then fight it out. And after fighting, again accept. A fight should be sandwiched between acceptance and that is the essence of Yoga.

Yoga means what? Acting with acceptance and with serenity; acting with the total vision.

Q-4: After death what happens to the soul?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Well, it gets ready to come back. It goes and stands in the line for another body. Millions are waiting to come back to the planet. That is why I tell people who have suicidal tendencies and want to kill themselves, not to do it. You have waited a long time and stood in a long queue to get a body, so don’t destroy it. It is very precious.

Q-5: Where was I before I came into this body?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Very good question! Before I got this body, where was I? The consciousness is very ancient; the mind is older than the stones. I tell you, keep this question. This is a very important question. Don’t be in a hurry to get an answer.

In this very question you will find the answer, and you will go deep into meditation and much more. I am here now, but everywhere too.

Based on a series of talks entitled ‘Secrets of meditation’ given by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on April 22, 2012, California. These talks have been made into knowledge sheets.